Overview

The VA Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. The service-member must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

Individuals eligible under Chapter 33 are generally entitled to 36 months of educational assistance, expiring 15 years from the date of the last discharge or release from at least 90 consecutive days of active duty.

Effective as of August 1, 2009, approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, professional degrees, and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill® benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill®. The Post-9/11 GI Bill® pays tuition based upon the highest in-state tuition charged by a public educational institution in the state where the school is located. The amount of support that an individual may qualify for depends on where they live and what type of degree they are pursuing.

Benefit Payments

  • Tuition and Fees: paid directly to the school on behalf of the student when the enrollment certification is processed. The tuition and fees payment is prorated by the students benefit level. The payment is the actual net cost for in-state tuition for tuition and fees after the application of tuition specific resources or waiver.
  • Monthly Housing Allowance: paid directly to the student at the beginning of each month for previous month. No payments for housing are ever paid to UCSB. The monthly housing allowance paid equals the Basic Allowance for Housing rate for an "E-5 with dependents" and the zip code of the school (93106). The housing allowance is prorated by the student’s length of service percentage and the rate of pursuit if not full time.
  • Books and Supplies: stipend paid directly to the student. The stipend is $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment.

Visit the Department of Veteran Affairs website for further information about benefit payments rates.

More Information and How to Apply

Transfer of Eligibility

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® also offers some service members the opportunity to transfer all or some of their unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The Department of Defense (DoD) determines whether or not you can transfer benefits. Once the DoD approves benefits for transfer, the new beneficiaries apply for them with the VA.

For further information, visit the Transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill® area of the Department of Veteran Affairs website.